Ironing board mounting structure



Nov. 10, 1953 M. R. HULL IRONING BOARD MOUNTING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iuvsn'ron, v. 3. MATTHEW R. HULL, V/z/ A :BY M d H:I'TORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,658,294

IRONING BOARD MOUNTING STRUCTURE Matthew B. Hull, Connersville, Ind;

Y Application January 13, 1959, Serial No. 188,456

Claims.

This invention relates to an ironing board v wherein there is a mounting bracket fixed in relation to a Wall or some relatively fixed medium such as a door casing, or even a door, and to which bracket the ironing board may be removably engaged. The invention involves primarily means for effecting a rigid interconnection between the ironing board and the bracket in a very simple manner by the operation of a single lever. The invention further contemplates the inclusion in the structure-of means for securing the ironing board in angular-1y disposed positions horizontally around the mounting bracket.

A primary object of the invention is to permit a quick attachment and detachment of an ironing board so that the board may be stored when not in use, and then brought out and attached for use, and be maintained for use in a very rigid, nonyielding manner. A further advantage as above indicated, lies in the fact that in interengaging the ironing board with the mounting bracket, the engagement may be effected such that the ironing board may be shifted in either direction from a normal position in respect to the bracket, a fact which is of particular advantage where space is at a premium, and the mounting bracket cannot be so mounted to permit the right angle location of the board in re spect to that bracket.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention such as will be found in the unique combination of the elements as embodied in the appended claims, will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description or one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in bottom plan of a structure embodying the invention; I

Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 through the operating and locking lever;

Fig. 4, a view in side elevation of the "structure; and

Fig. 5, a fragmentary view in bottom plan on an enlarged scale of the securing mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, in which like charactersof reference indicate like parts in the several views, I employ an ironing board I0 made out of any suitable material, herein shown as being made out of metal to have a down-turned flange H around its marginal edge. The board It is preferably reinforced both longitudinally and laterally in any suitable means, herein shown as by a pair of united structural, inverted U- shaped members i! N, g

Mounted on the underside of the board il across the undersides of the members it and I3, is a 'rockable cross shaft l4 frictionally retained between the supporting and attaching bearing members 15 and I6. Secured centrally to this transverse shaft 14 is a board supmrt leg 11, preferably adjustable in length, and hav ing a friction tip it on its outer free end. In the .form herein shown, the leg I! is provided with a telescoping end portion I! on which the tip it is telescoped at the outer end. This part is telescopes within the leg I! and is adjustably secured therein by means ofone or more bolts 20, herein shown as two, extending from the inside of the extension portion i9 through a slot 21 therein, and outwardly through the leg 11 to have a wing nut 21 engaged thereover as a means for running down on the bolt 20 to secure the extension 19 in the selected position. .Normally the leg I! is folded back under the board Fig. 1 as indicated in that figure. In use, the leg 11 is dropped down substantially vertically from the underside of the board H) as indicated in P18. 4.

At the rear or heel end. of the board 10, there is fixed thereto against the lower faces of the member i 2 and 13, a plate 23.

This plate 23 however is mounted so that it can be rocked while in frictional contact with the members I! and 11 about a retaining pivot bolt 24 which is fixed to the board it to extend through a spacer sleeve 25 between the elements I2 and I8, to pass through the plate 23 and have secured thereon a wing nut 26.

The plate 23 is provided with a pair of ar'cuate slots 21 and 28 having a common radius iron the center 01. the bolt 24. Bolts 29 and 30 are carried by the elements I! and It to extend through these slots 21 and 28 respectively and receive on their underends, the thumb screws 31 and 32 respectively.

The back end portion or the plate 28 has a downwardly turned flange 33 extending therealong. A U-shaped member 34 made out of elastic material such as steel, is placed against the underside of the plate 23 to have its free ends carried through holes 35 and 38 provided in this flange 33. The member 34 has downtuined feet 31 and 38 to extend substantially in parallel rela'-' tlon with the back face of the flange 33, and in rearwardly spaced relation therefrom, to incline somewhat ior'wa'r'dly.

A mounting bracket 39 is provided to be liked to the wall 40 by. any suitable means such as by the screws ii, to have a horizontally disposed flange "a extending outwardly from the wall,

3 herein shown as being concave from its upper side, although it may be kept straight. This flange 39a is provided with spaced apart holes 42 and 43 therein to receive the downturned feet 31 and 38 respectively therethrough.

Rockably mounted on the underside of the plate 23 is an operating lever 44, pivoted about a pin or rivet 45, Fig. 5, held by the plate. This lever 44 is provided with a slot 46 across its upper side to permit the member 34 to extend thereacross. The spacing of the slot 46 from the axis of the pin 45 is made to be such that when the lever 44 is in the position indicated in Fig. 5, the feet 31 and 33 are free to be entered in the holes 42 and 43, and then when the lever 44 is rocked to the dash line position, the member 34 will be pulled relatively through the flange 33 to approximately the position as indicated by the dash lines whereupon the feet 31 and 38 are forcibly and compressibly drawn against the edges of the holes 42 and 43 to force the flange 33 compressibly against the bracket flange 39a, 4, so that there may be no relative horizontal rocking of the plate 33 relative to the bracket 39. The pull on the member 34 forces the member slightly out of its normal semi-circular bend in order to apply the yielding pressure desired on the feet 31 and 38 in their engagement with the forward or outer margins of the holes 42 and 43. Preferably a bearing pin 48 is mounted vertically across the lever 44 at the margin of the slot 46 to form the bearing member in contact with the U-shaped member 34 in order to avoid excessive wear.

In order to prevent excessive shifting of the member 34 to one side in the clamping and unclamping movement of the lever 44, a limit pin 50 is fixed outside the member 34 adjacent the flange 33.

The angle of the board, in the horizontal plane, is determined then by rocking the board relative to the plate 23, and then securing the desired position by turning up the wing nuts 26, 3|, and 32, to fix that position.

Thus it is to be seen that while I have produced an exceedingly simple structure, it nevertheless secures a very rigid connection of the ironing board to the holding bracket, and at the same time permits lateral adjustment of the board. The board is released from its holding bracket 39 by rocking the lever 44 from the dash line position to the solid line position, Fig. 5, whereupon the board l may be lifted slightly to disengage the feet 31 and 38 from the flange 39a, and then the leg H may be folded back under and against the underside of the board ID as indicated in Fig. 1, whereupon the board I0 is then ready to be placed in its storage position.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

-l. In an ironing board mounting device, a plate for attaching to the board; a U-shaped elastic bar defined by a Pair of legs and an arcuate web interconnecting the legs disposed to have its legs extended to the rear of the plate; a guide support on the plate for each of said legs near their rear ends; a board supporting foot on the outer end portion of each of said legs; a lever mounted on said plate between said legs to rock on an axis substantially normal to the plate spaced to the rear of said web, to have the lever extend from said axis and across said web to terminate by an operating end portion; and an abutment on said lever in the path of said web, said axis being located in reference to said web whereby swinging the lever from a laterally disposed position toward a center line of the U-bar will tend to push the bar forwardly of said plate.

2. An ironing board mounting comprising a plate attachable to the under side of the board at the rear end thereof; an elastic U-shaped member defined by a pair of legs and an arcuate web interconnecting the legs; guide means at the rear edge of said plate slidably supporting said legs for fore and aft travel in relation to said plate; said web being disposed in superimposed relation to said plate; a downturned foot on the end of each of said legs extending rearwardly of said guide means; a lever rockably mounted on said plate to swing about an axis across said web; a member carried by said lever to engage said web; said member being spaced from said lever axis a distance greater than the normal distance from that axis to said web; a mounting bracket having means detachably engageable by said feet; said elastic member being tended to be pulled forwardly by rocking of said lever to carry said member into engagement with said web whereby, through engagement by said feet with said bracket means, said plate is urged compressively against said bracket.

3. An ironing board detachable mounting comprising a relatively fixed bracket; a plate attachable to the ironing board at one end thereof; an elastic, U-shaped bar disposed in superimposed relation to the plate to have legs thereof rearwardly disposed from an interconnecting arcuate web; a bracket abutment on the rear end portion of said plate, means for guiding and supporting the legs to slide in fore and aft directions; bracket engaging members on the rear ends of said legs; said abutment being between said bracket engaging members and said web; a lever carried by said plate pivoted thereto between said web and said abutment; an abutment carried by said lever to swing against said web from its rear side upon rocking theretoward of said lever to tend to urge said web forwardly of said plate; whereby pressure of said lever abutment against said web with said bracket engaging members in engagement with the bracket will tend to distort elastically said web to clamp said plate abutment firmly against said bracket.

4. An ironing board detachable mounting comprising a relatively fixed bracket; a plate attachable to the ironing board-at one end thereof; an

elastic, U-shaped bar disposed in superimposed relation to the plate to have legs thereof rearwardly disposed from an interconnecting arcuate web; a bracket abutment on the rear end por tion of said plate, means for guiding and supporting the legs to slide in fore and aft directions; bracket engaging members on the rear ends of said legs; said abutment being between said bracket engaging members and said web; a lever carried by said plate pivoted thereto between said web and said abutment; an abutment carried by said lever to swing against said web from its rear side upon rocking theretoward of said lever to tend to urge said web forwardly of said plate; whereby pressure of said lever abutment against said web with said bracket engaging members in engagement with the bracket willtend to distort elastically said web to clamp said plate abutment firmly against said bracket; said plate abutment consisting of a flange turned from said plate; said bracket having spaced apart openings along a forward portion thereof; said bracket engaging means consisting oi downturned leg ends receivable through said bracket openings for engagement over the margins thereof.

5. An ironing board detachable mounting comprising a relatively fixed bracket; a plate attachable to the ironing board at one end thereof; an elastic, U-shaped bar disposed in superimposed relation to the plate to have legs thereof rearwardly disposed from an interconnecting arcuate web; a bracket abutment on the rear end portion of said plate, means for guiding and supporting the legs to slide in fore and aft directions; bracket engaging members on the rear ends of said legs; said abutment being between said bracket engaging members and said web; a lever carried by said plate pivoted thereto between said web and said abutment; an abutment carried by said lever to swing against said 20 web from its rear side upon rocking theretoward of said lever to tend to urge said web forwardly of said plate; whereby pressure 01' said lever abutment against said web with said bracket engaging members in engagement with the bracket will tend to distort elastically said web to clamp said plate abutment firmly against said bracket; said plate abutment consisting of a flange turned from said plate; said bracket having spaced apart openings along a forward portion thereof; said bracket engaging means consisting of downturned leg ends receivable through said bracket openings for engagement over the margins thereof; said bar web being disposed between said plate and said lever.

MATTHEW R. HULL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 833,592 Erwin Oct. 16, 1906 956,013 Willis Apr. 26, 1910 

